Coverage of it natural phenomenon, a total Solar Eclipse. That was the response of crowds gathering in the mexican city of mazatlan, who were among the first to witness the moon completely blocking the sun forjust over four minutes. It then moved north. We saw this in dallas. And this was the moment in Niagara Falls. And this was the view from high in the sky these stunning shots from a High Altitude balloon Live Streaming the eclipse 90,000 feet in the air. The team behind the launch is the university of maine, and its part of nasa s nationwide eclipse ballooning project. This was the journey across mexico, into the us, moving north before eventually exciting the continent off the north east coast. Bbc has been following live on the ground from across the country. Will grant in mexico. I think 70 , 80 totality where you were, but you are first on the ground. Give us a sense of what it felt like. It ground. Give us a sense of what it felt like. ,. Ground. Give us a sense of what it felt like. ,. , h, felt like. It is such a special moment felt like. It is such a special moment. As i felt like. It is such a special moment. As i was felt like. It is such a special moment. As i was talking l felt like. It is such a speciall moment. As i was talking on felt like. It is such a special moment. As i was talking on the television, essentially talking to the audience, you could hear in the years everything that was going on here, and at the moment of pure excitement that was a gripping all those people who really were the first. They were the first in the world to see that come through as it made its way north. Here in mexico city, there was around 80 coverage. It got very, very kind of dusk like, as though it was late afternoon. It was about to go down. We got a sense of what it was like, but that real excitement, that was a tragedy for those who are in the full part of it. Then it was so special for them, because so many had travelled specifically to that coastline to a state that is so often associated with violence in mexico are not something as positive and celebrated address. And the cheer went up and that the entire area went dark, for those just over four minutes, and you just get an understanding of speu you just get an understanding of spell of the fact that this is a nation that perhaps always a and looked up at this because putting the hustle and bustle of modern life, does necessarily found the opportunity to do so. So this particular moment, full eclipse, give those people who were lucky enough to be a must pass a chance to do so, to sort of reflector turn to look up as the ancient mayans had so many centuries ago. And it created a system in mexico that was really part of under the stars. There was a sort of poetic, almost romantic, connection to the forefathers. find connection to the forefathers. And ou talked connection to the forefathers. And you talked about that romantic connection, there is also quite an emotional, spiritual reaction that we have been hearing four people, as it made its way across the country there. People talking about feeling small, and their place in the universe. Did you get a sense of that there . That there . Exactly. Mexico is alwa s a that there . Exactly. Mexico is always a destination that there . Exactly. Mexico is always a destination for that there . Exactly. Mexico is| always a destination for people that there . Exactly. Mexico is always a destination for people who seek out the spirituality of this nation, who want to get in touch with the celestial, particularly along that pacific coastline, right down and a beautiful part of the country, where the meyer empire and the meyer connection is still very strong to this day. And of course, on that beach, i think there has been very few moments in recent history that would have been as strong as where you have people perhaps travelling the length and breadth of the country in order to get in touch with that. This is a destination internationally for people who were looking for spiritual answers and feel they might find them from mexico was not connection to Mayan Culture and aztec culture, and i think there is very much like part of that, part of a whole connection to the past. Will, for now, thank you very much. The us last saw a total Solar Eclipse in 2017, but astronomers protecting the next one will not happen until 2045, so those that did get a chance to see today were lucky. Lets talk to nomia iqbal, from texas. You were lucky. The weather held up, you could see it perfectly, couldnt you . I weather held up, you could see it perfectly, couldnt you . Perfectly, couldnt you . Ifeel so so luc. Perfectly, couldnt you . Ifeel so so lucky. Obviously, perfectly, couldnt you . Ifeel so so lucky. Obviously, im perfectly, couldnt you . Ifeel so so lucky. Obviously, im here perfectly, couldnt you . Ifeel so so lucky. Obviously, im here inl perfectly, couldnt you . Ifeel so| so lucky. Obviously, im here in a professional capacity, but what a person in month and everybody here, including me. I have never seen a total Solar Eclipse. We were really nervous this morning because of the weather. So, it was forecast to have clout and rain, weather. So, it was forecast to have cloutand rain, i had my weather. So, it was forecast to have clout and rain, i had my raincoat on this morning and people werejust trying to kind of a change the goalposts in terms of, what is it we want to see . What will make us happy . But the clouds parted and we got to see it in all its glory. And i kept asking people who had seen a total Solar Eclipse before, what is it like . And they should come you cant describe it, and i understand that now. When the funny thing is, before i speak to anybody when rico love, i always say to them, dont swear. Obviously, you cant spare. Coming to me like come in that moment, i was like, dont swear, nomia it was so cool. It was so amazing to watch in that moment. And people here were just so excited. This is a camping site where farmers were here with the children. Honestly, ive never seen anything that has united people, certain here, to the extent that the Solar Eclipse that a few hours ago. You sa it is eclipse that a few hours ago. You say it is really eclipse that a few hours ago. You say it is really hard eclipse that a few hours ago. You say it is really hard to describe it by going to ask you to do exactly that. I was taking by the number of people cheering and stripping. And it sort of touch people on a different level, didnt it . Cheating and whooping. It different level, didnt it . Cheating and whooping. It did. You aet eole cheating and whooping. It did. You get peeple who cheating and whooping. It did. You get people who Cheer Cheating and whooping. It did. You get people who cheer and cheating and whooping. It did. You get people who cheer and clap, get people who cheer and clap, people who are screaming, and only people who are screaming, and only people who are screaming, and only people who sat there, jaw dropping, and just in awe. And i was told that would happen, for sure. And i did see that. You get those that is just the science part of it is just being an awe of our planet. Under lots of people having the sorts of personal reckoning with the universe, and thatis reckoning with the universe, and that is that the murder of her small beer. And for a lot of people, certainly in texas, it is a religious date. It was a religious moment, and one man said this was gods word, the bit was perfectly coordinated, all coming together, it was a real religious moment. In terms of describing, ijust think that moment when it went from day to night, and when the temperature drops, it isjust. You night, and when the temperature drops, it is just. You feel really small all of a sudden. Your place in the bottom i understand what people mean by that. You just seem so insignificant, almost. It left up to all the hype that we have been hearing, and it was a pretty special moment for our team to witness at a total Solar Eclipse. Im moment for our team to witness at a total Solar Eclipse. Total Solar Eclipse. Im interested is welcome total Solar Eclipse. Im interested is welcome in total Solar Eclipse. Im interested is welcome in the total Solar Eclipse. Im interested is welcome in the aftermath, total Solar Eclipse. Im interested i is welcome in the aftermath, there is welcome in the aftermath, there is so much brought up to that moment, and longer the same, four minutes, that you experienced a total eclipse. What is a feeling afterwards, when it suddenly gets light again, do peoplejust returned to normal . The light again, do people ust returned to normal . , light again, do people ust returned to normal . ,. ,. , to normal . The camp is now clearing out, but everyone to normal . The camp is now clearing out, but everyone was to normal . The camp is now clearing out, but everyone wasjust to normal . The camp is now clearing out, but everyone wasjust stood out, but everyone was just stood around for quite some time, for about half an hour, just wanting to talk about it. We are here, obviously, there are other media outlets, peoplejust obviously, there are other media outlets, people just wanting to talk about it, what the experience. The children we spoke to were so so excited, and bear in mind you have got farmers who were here with two children. One woman said to me, are used to have to drag my kids out to family events, i didnt have to do that. There were so excited. But i think what i would say is, i did speak to someone who was a self described Solar Eclipse chasers, it was herfourth self described Solar Eclipse chasers, it was her fourth attempt. She had come from germany, and she said it is addictive. I can see what she means. It is one of those experiences that you want to cheers. And there were a few people here are felt like that, who had seen it for the first time as well. I felt like that, who had seen it for the first time as well. Felt like that, who had seen it for the first time as well. I have got a feelin the first time as well. I have got a feeling you the first time as well. I have got a feeling you might the first time as well. I have got a feeling you might be the first time as well. I have got a feeling you might be picking the first time as well. I have got a | feeling you might be picking hotels and tickets, chasing the next one, nomia. , ~ , and tickets, chasing the next one, nomia. , ~ i. , and tickets, chasing the next one, nomia. , ~. ,. , ~. , nomia. Thank you for talking to us. In 20 nomia. Thank you for talking to us. In 20 years nomia. Thank you for talking to us. In 20 years time nomia. Thank you for talking to us. In 20 years time lets nomia. Thank you for talking to us. In 20 years time lets talk nomia. Thank you for talking to us. In 20 years time lets talk to in 20 years time lets talk to helena humphrey, in 20 years time lets talk to helena humphrey, who in 20 years time lets talk to helena humphrey, who is in 20 years time lets talk to helena humphrey, who is in i in 20 years time lets talk to helena humphrey, who is in a| in 20 years time lets talk to helena humphrey, who is in a van that come outside cleveland. You witness a pretty perfect total Solar Eclipse, and there were fireworks for you. Eclipse, and there were fireworks foryou. People eclipse, and there were fireworks for you. People making the most of that darkness. I for you. People making the most of that darkness. That darkness. I think one of the words to describe that darkness. I think one of the words to describe it, that darkness. I think one of the words to describe it, although, l that darkness. I think one of the i words to describe it, although, as nami said it is difficult to describe, it was like the 4th of july here in the united states. And new years eve all at once, because look at this beautiful setting behind me. We are only 80 here in ohio. That gorgeous water behind me. We had a bright blue sky that then plugs into darkness and then those Fireworks Rights over the water. It couldnt be, i think a more Perfect Moment that we experience. We drove an early because we knew about those trafficjams, and what you saw on the hype of this to people sin, Solar Eclipse, plan for some extra time. We got here prior to early. We were met with a little bit of courage is of course like everybody we will just courage is of course like everybody we willjust keeping your fingers crossed, praying to weather gods, and, boy, did not pay off, because we got that bright blue sky, that perfect Solar Eclipse. Totality. And then, of course, that ring of fire, solar flares as well. It really couldnt have been better. And what you got the sense here of was a sense of history as well in ohio. Beyond the science, and all the things that can be derived from there a day, you just got that connection to forefathers. The last time that we saw a total Solar Eclipse in this part of mikrut it was 18 asserts. Just to give you a sense of what it was like then. In this part of ohio. Just three years to statehood, when many Indigenous People but on the land, more circulars coming over from the east. And one particular man, a warrior chief, had essentially tried to unite native tribes against the settlers in terms of resistance, and at the time, the governor of indiana had they done a chance, and he said, if you really are such a powerful leader, stop the sun in the sky. Alter the course of the men. And he said, i will do that in 50 years. And lo and behold, it Solar Eclipse came to pass, and that really cemented his authority. The Bill Grant In Mexico was talking about going back to the ancient mayans, but here, we have got a sense of that. Just without connection to the past. And this is one of the real that takes from the past and connects us to the future as well. Truly, an inspiring, incredible moment. Truly, an inspiring, incredible moment truly, an inspiring, incredible moment. ~ ,. , truly, an inspiring, incredible moment. ~m,. ,. , moment. Mark asserts, really good to have either talking moment. Mark asserts, really good to have either talking us moment. Mark asserts, really good to have either talking us through moment. Mark asserts, really good to have either talking us through that. I have either talking us through that. It was fascinating to watch as you experienced it in ohio. And then the part of totality moving up towards the border with canada. Our correspondent, nada tawfik was following the action from their guffaws. Here is that moment of totality. Wow, that are spectacular oh, wow that is fabulous you can see it fully now. You can see it now. Mother nature is a truly teasing us today. Earlier, during the partial eclipse, it peaked there, it has there, to speak through again. Nada, e won the there, to speak through again. Nada, Je Won The Award there, to speak through again. Nada, Je Won The Award for there, to speak through again. Nada, Je Won The Award for most Je Won The Award for most enthusiastic corresponding of the day. Congratulations. Youre their life in their guffaws for the snow. And the weather was potentially an issue, but Mother Nature delivered. I think that is what has sounded so short, because we all had a kind of. We were remain cautiously optimistic, but we had almost resigned yourself to the fact that, if it doesnt happen, this is still an absolutely amazing experience. For me and my entire team, it was the first and we had visited Niagara Falls, so then in that moment, despite that very heavy cloud cover, you heard itjust from my excitement but also the crowd went absolutely wild, because the eclipse data peek through. And you were able to catch a view of the coroner. One person mentioned seeing the solar flares and then permit talk about the effect on environment, of course, it gets dark, and the temperature dropped but something i had never experienced before and passed a total eclipse is that i witnessed was just how much the birds reacted. You had dozens and dozens of seagulls. You can see birds occasionally, but you had dozens of seagulls descending over right above the false, just going absolutely crazy. And so the whole spectacle combined Niagara Falls, seeing the songs corona, seeing the birds react and the temperature in the darkness together was just something that really truly does feel like a once in a lifetime experience, and everybody here was just in on that moment. Everybody here was ust in on that moment. ,. ,. ,. , everybody here was ust in on that moment. ,. ,. ,. , moment. One in a loud tone, you are riuht. And moment. One in a loud tone, you are right and being moment. One in a loud tone, you are right. And being able moment. One in a loud tone, you are right. And being able to moment. One in a loud tone, you are right. And being able to be moment. One in a loud tone, you are right. And being able to be there right. And being able to be there and come the stars aligning allow you to be able to see it in that way. What more people telling you about how they felt being able to witness it on someone as beautiful, i guess, is Niagara Falls . I guess, is Niagara Falls . Somewhere i guess, is Niagara Falls . Somewhere as i guess, is Niagara Falls . somewhere as beautiful. People told me some of them planned this over a yearin me some of them planned this over a year in advance, some locals who had planned but the family to come. And every Single Person told me just how much it meant to them to be with friends, to be with family, to take time out of work, out of life, two witnesses together, to celebrate this. And also, just how small the felt in that moment, looking up. And even before that moment of totality,